Gulf Of Gdansk Research Articles

Influence of circulation processes on cyanobacteria bloom and phytoplankton succession in the Baltic Sea coastal area

Many studies related to the influence of eddies on the primary production chain of marine ecosystems have been conducted; however, this effect tends to be regionally specific, especially in coastal dynamic waters. In the Baltic Sea, mesoscale and submesoscale eddies are a ubiquitous feature of water circulation during summer, when diazotrophic cyanobacteria blooms occur in surface waters due to the excess of phosphorus in seawater. Climatic change may increase the frequency and duration of these negative events in the marine ecosystem. We examined the taxonomic composition, abundance, and primary production of phytoplankton in the southeastern Baltic Sea during the occurrence of the packed eddy system at the end of the abnormally warm summer of 2018. Massive cyanobacteria growth was observed in the plume of the eutrophic Vistula Lagoon in the Gulf of Gdansk. The only species diazotrophic Dolichospermum flos-aquae ((Bornet & Flahault) P. Wacklin, L. Hoffmann & Komárek, 2009) vegetated along the western coast of the Sambia Peninsula. Its colonies reached the highest biomass nearby the dumping site of the Amber Mining Plant in Yantarny, Kaliningrad Region, Russia. The cyanobacteria colonies dispersed in the outgoing jet of a relatively warm eddy dipole. Chrysochromulina spp. (Lackey, 1939) was dominant in these nitrogen-rich waters. In contrast, cryptophyte species dominated in the relatively cold waters of the dipole anticyclone that resulted in a fourfold decline in primary production. The decrease in the number of mobile phytoplankton species was revealed within the “old” eddies near the northern coast of the Sambia Peninsula and the Curonian Spit. Meanwhile, species of the spring–autumn complex Coscinodiscus granii (Gough, 1905), Peridiniella catenate ((Levander) Balech, 1977) and other developed in the community. This implies that the appearance of eddies can cause phytoplankton succession in the coastal area. The mechanism of their influence was similar to the action of other physical factors perturbing a relatively stationary environment. Capture of cyanobacterial colonies by eddies led to an improvement of the ecological situation in the area, as cyanobacteria transported their biomass outside the coastal area. However, the opposite direction processes obviously were the deterioration of light conditions, increased water turbidity, and organic matter concentration.

Electrochemical Sensing of 2,4-Dinitrotoluene on Boron-Doped Carbon Nanowall Electrodes in Seawater

50 000 tons of chemical weapons and 500 000 tons of conventional weapons, containing nitroexplosive compounds such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) have been dumped in the Baltic Sea since the end of World War II. In addition, many wrecks from World War II are still laying at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The marine environment, due to the content of chloride ions, shows high corrosion aggressiveness. As a result, the degradation of metal ammunition casings, fuel tanks and other metal elements causes the successive release of toxic substances into the ecosystem. Uncontrolled emission of those chemicals hinders the development of biological life and poisons fish living in the sea, which later as food posing a real threat to human health.TNT is a highly energetic material commonly utilized as a filling of shell casting and mines, thus it is used in large quantities in armed conflicts. 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) is the decomposition product of TNT and has a similar structure (2,4-DNT has two nitro groups (-NO2) and TNT three). Exposure to high 2,4-DNT concentrations may cause lung and liver complications as well as reproductive problems. 2,4-DNT is spread all over the world and is found in air, surface water, groundwater, and soil [1]. Therefore, environmental monitoring of DNT using an effective sensor is essential. The development of DNT sensors able to effectively work in marine water with the required sensitivity is extremely necessary and remains a challenge.Carbon nanomaterials have been used in various fields, such as electronic, optoelectronic, photovoltaic, and electrochemical applications, owing to their excellent electrical, electrochemical and mechanical properties. Boron-doped carbon nanowall (B:CNW) electrodes are characterized by excellent charge transfer and compared to for example boron-doped diamond electrodes exhibit highly developed active surface area [2]. Moreover, these electrodes showed a sensitive and selective response to nitroaromatic compounds, such as TNT and 2,4,6-trinitroanisole (TNA) [3].In this study, we propose a 2,4-DNT electrochemical sensor based on a boron-doped carbon nanowall electrode prepared in a one-step process using a chemical vapor deposition technique. The determination of 2,4-dinitrotoluene was performed using differential pulses voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) in saline water matrices on B:CNW electrodes, using a three-electrode setup. The objective of this work is to test the influence of water salinity level on the 2,4-dinitrotoluene detection sensitivity. For this purpose, water containing various levels of salinity (from 2 – 20 ‰) was investigated. Furthermore, real-sample measurements were conducted using the Baltic See water from the Gulf of Gdansk. The levels of salinity were selected based on average salinity of the Baltic Sea (7.5‰).Literature:[1] D. E. Rickert, et al., CRC Critical Reviews in Toxicology. (1984) 13:3 217-234[2] M. Sobaszek, et al., J. Phys. Chem. C. 121 (2017) 20821–20833[3] A. Dettlaff, et al., J. Hazard. Mater. 387 (2020) 121672Acknowledgements:The research leading to these results has received funding from the Norway Grants 2014-2021 via the National Centre for Research and Development within research grant no. NOR/SGS/NITROsens/0011/2020-00.

Distribution of phenol derivatives by river waters to the marine environment (Gulf of Gdansk, Baltic Sea)

The aim of this study from 2020 was to identify the role of rivers, including those with low water flow and a constant inflow of bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) to the marine environment. Water samples were collected from the small rivers flowing into the Gulf of Gdańsk and from the Vistula River. Final assays were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FL). The highest concentrations of phenol derivatives were found in summer, most likely due to higher consumption of products containing phenol derivatives. Another factor may be the type of development in the catchment area. The measurements did not exceed the PNEC, though this does not mean that the amounts of phenol derivatives introduced into the Gulf of Gdańsk by rivers can be ignored. Mean loads of xenobiotics introduced to the sea via rivers have been calculated as over 320 kg y-1 of BPA and about 55 kg y-1 of 4-t-OP and 4-NP each.

The effect of temperature change on metabolism: separating biological and chemical reactions

Life-detection experiments carried out in extraterrestrial locations provided inconclusive results whether processes observed were biological or chemical. In this study, the typical effect of temperature on metabolic rates is described and a life-detection method that is easy to perform is proposed. The method comprises observing changes in microbial metabolic rates after temperature shift. The method was demonstrated by experiments on aquatic microorganisms in the Gulf of Gdansk (Baltic Sea). First experiment, in which temperature was shifted within the temperature range encountered at the sampling site, demonstrated a typical Q10 coefficient (2.84). The experiment in which temperature was shifted beyond the environmental temperature range provided an unexpectedly low Q10 coefficient (1.44), which indicated that excessive temperature exerted an inhibitory effect on metabolism. This response is not expected for chemical reactions, but it is typical for biological processes. In summary, a pair of properly-tailored experiments permitted separating biological and chemical reactions.

Detection of Oil in Seawater Based on the Fluorometric Index during the Winter Season in the Baltic Sea-The Case of the Gulf of Gdansk.

This study is a continuation of analyses of the fluorometric index (FI), based on the fluorescence of substances of oil origin, as an indicator of oil in a seawater column. The effectiveness of the FI in the cold season (late autumn, winter and early spring) for the coastal water in the southern Baltic Sea was assessed. FI was tested for seawater polluted with a mixture of crude oils, lubricating oils and fuels. Laboratory analyses of oil–water systems for low (reaching the limit of detection) oil content in seawater were performed. The influences of the natural components of seawater that disrupt oil detection are discussed. The ability to detect oil in a seawater column regardless of the season was confirmed.

The Effects of Wastewater Treatment Plant Failure on the Gulf of Gdansk (Southern Baltic Sea).

In August 2019 and during August/September 2020, the main collection system of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Warsaw, Poland, malfunctioned. During that system failure, over 4.8 million m3 of untreated wastewater was dropped directly into the Vistula River in just a few days. It is currently considered as one of the largest known failures of WWTP worldwide. In order to assess the environmental impact, water samples were collected from 2 spots at the Vistula river estuary (406 and 415 km from the discharge location, respectively), and 4 spots at the Gulf of Gdansk, situated on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea. The sampling was conducted before the wastewater wave reached the Vistula river’s mouth, followed by daily sampling during 21 days after the malfunction occurred. The study showed the decline in water quality at the Vistula river estuary and the Baltic shore waters as the wave of wastewater reached those points, despite being situated over 400 km downstream from the place of the accident. Those changes included the reduction in the dissolved oxygen content (by 0.69-fold at its peak), the increase in Total Organic Carbon (TOC) (by 1.28-fold at its peak), nitrate-nitrogen (N-NO3) (by 1.68-fold at its peak), phosphorous (P) (by 2.41-fold at its peak), conductivity (by 16.8-fold at its peak), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) (by 1.84-fold). In the samples from the Vistula river, the decline in water quality was seen as incidental and lasted 2–3 days. Subsequently, the levels of physical and chemical parameters returned to the levels from before the accident. However, the changes in the Gulf of Gdańsk lasted significantly longer, especially on the West side of the Vistula river, where, even after 21 days from the initial accident, some parameters remained altered.

First report of the presence of Vibrio vulnificus in the Gulf of Gdansk.

Vibrio infections are becoming more frequent in the Baltic Sea region, which is caused by an increase in the sea surface temperature. Climate change creates the conditions for the emergence of new environmental niches that are beneficial for Vibrio spp., especially in the summer months. Vibrio vulnificus, which causes wound infections and septicaemia, represents a particularly dangerous species of Vibrio spp. There are numerous publications on the prevalence of V. vulnificus in various regions of the Baltic Sea, but there is a lack of such data for the Polish coast. This prompted us to conduct a pilot study into the prevalence of the bacteria in the Gulf of Gdansk. The study aimed to detect Vibrio spp. in the coastal waters and the wet sand at the beaches and bathing areas in the Gulf of Gdansk. During the period from June 16th to September 23rd 2020, 112 samples of seawater and 105 samples of wet sand were collected at 16 locations along the coast of the Gulf of Gdansk and Hel peninsula. Isolation of Vibrio spp. was conducted by filtering method and the isolated bacteria was cultured on CHROM agar Vibrio and TCBS agar. Final genus identification was performed by the MALDI TOF technique. In the present study, 10 isolates of Vibrio spp. were obtained from seawater and wet sand samples collected in the Gulf of Gdansk and Hel peninsula coast. Three of the isolates were identified as V. vulnificus; the presence of the species was confirmed in the seawater samples which had been collected in Hel (1 isolate), Jastarnia (1 isolate), and Chalupy (1 isolate). One strain of Vibrio alginolyticus was isolated from the seawater sample collected in Hel. Moreover, identification was incomplete for 6 of the isolated strains, these were identified as Vibrio cholerae/mimicus These strains were collected in Jastarnia (1 isolate), Kuznica (1 isolate), Gdansk-Brzezno (1 isolate), Puck (2 isolates), Chalupy (1 isolate). Our preliminary research study confirmed the presence of potentially pathogenic V. vulnificus in the Gulf of Gdansk in the summer months. Therefore, further monitoring of the presence of Vibrio spp. in the Baltic coast area is necessary.

Suburban Morphology Dynamics: The Case of the Tricity Agglomeration, Poland

Suburbanization is a phase of the development of cities that consists in the growth of the suburban zone at the expense of the city center, which becomes gradually depopulated. The phenomenon of uncontrolled suburbanization (urban sprawl) causes infrastructural (including transport), environmental, social, economic, and legal problems. This paper presents the results of a study of the phenomenon of suburbanization conducted on the basis of vector data using two methods: one based on the use of a grid of primary square fields, and one based on the use of concentric zones/rings. The analyses were conducted in the surroundings of the Tricity agglomeration, which is located in the northern part of Poland on the Gulf of Gdansk, and covered the period from 2000 to 2018. Using a grid of primary fields, the areas of the greatest increase and decrease in the developed areas, irrespective of administrative boundaries, were determined for the selected periods, and the areas of the constant positive and negative balance of the buildings were identified. Using concentric rings, the process of the shifting of the new development zones was traced. The paper also refers to the route of the Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway (PKM), which was commissioned in 2015, and its potential impact on suburbanization in the Tricity area. The results made it possible to trace the suburbanization process in time and space and to learn the advantages and disadvantages of the use of vector data in spatial studies.

The Influence of Transport on PAHs and Other Carbonaceous Species’ (OC, EC) Concentration in Aerosols in the Coastal Zone of the Gulf of Gdansk (Gdynia)

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of transport on the concentration of carbon species in aerosols collected in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Gdansk in the period outside the heating season. Elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and the ΣPAHs5 concentrations were measured in aerosols of two size: <3 μm (respirable aerosols) and >3 μm in diameter (inhalable aerosols). Samples were collected between 13 July 2015 and 22 July 2015 (holiday period) and between 14 September 2015 and 30 September 2015 (school period). In both periods samples were taken only during the morning (7:00–9:00 a.m.) and afternoon (3:00–5:00 p.m.) road traffic hours. The highest mean values of the ΣPAHs5 and EC were recorded in small particles during the school period in the morning road traffic peak hours. The mean concentration of OC was the highest in small aerosols during the holiday period. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the concentrations of organic carbon in the morning and afternoon peak hours. Strict sampling and measurement procedures, together with the analysis of air mass backward trajectories and pollutant markers, indicated that the role of land transport was the greatest when local to regional winds prevailed, bringing pollution from nearby schools and the beltway.

Toward monitoring and estimating the size of the HFO-contaminated seabed around a shipwreck using MBES backscatter data

Despite a progressive reduction of oil spills caused by the activity of maritime transportation, the latent sources of pollution still exist. Although the harmful impact of heavy fuel oil (HFO) on the marine environment is widely known, many shipwrecks cause contamination of the surrounding areas. In this paper, an approach to monitor the area of the HFO spill around a shipwreck is made using a bottom backscattering strength (BBS) obtained by a multibeam echosounder (MBES). As a case study, the s/s Stuttgart wreck located in the Gulf of Gdansk (Poland) is verified. Two different measurement campaigns have been carried out in shallow waters using low (190 kHz) and high (420 kHz) MBES frequency. The results indicate that the polluted area around s/s Stuttgart was estimated at 49.1 ha, which is around 18.3% more in comparison to the geological surveys made four years earlier.

The use of the contribution margin on the valorisation of polish fisheries for maritime spatial planning

One of the primary goals of spatial planning is to provide decision makers with documents that will allow them to optimize the use of marine space. The function of such an optimization strategy is to maximize the usability of the sea surface. This article focuses on the pragmatic aspects of marine spatial planning. The authors presuppose a tool for planners that (i) is based on readily available information, is comparable for various countries (ii) and for which the economic interpretation is straightforward and allows for the comparison of fisheries with other sectors. The analysis is based on two pan-European surveys collected under the Common Fisheries Policy. The distribution and catch information is sourced from the Vessel Monitoring System and logbooks, and the economic data come from the national data submissions for the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries. A contribution margin consisting of the difference between the revenue and variable costs at a spatial unit with a 0.05-degree resolution was chosen as the most appropriate indicator for these purposes. A variable costing method can be used to determine the efficiency of maritime sectors in specific spatial units without artificially assigning costs that are unrelated to a given sea area. The analysis covers the period of 2013–2017. Three key areas for Polish fisheries have been identified: the Gulf of Gdansk, the Bornholm Basin, and the Słupsk Furrow; the average contribution margins in these regions were 1133, 651 and 580 EUR/km2, respectively. The variance analysis revealed that the high indicator values were mostly influenced by high catches of sprat and herring fished with pelagic trawls as well as high sprat prices. Fishing with passive gear (gillnets, hooks) and in the 3rd and 4th quarters proved to result in deficits in a large Polish maritime area. The indicators may have been influenced by the lack of data on the individual steaming times, as well as by variations among fuel consumptions and salary costs within fleet segments. Despite these limitations, the method used in this study allows a first attempt at the estimation of the contribution margin and its spatial variation over time in the context of Maritime Spatial Planning needs. The calculation undertaken in this paper yields the monetary interpretation of private spatial rents and future comparisons among various maritime sectors and various countries.

Towards a multi-basin SWAT model for the migration of nutrients and pesticides to Puck Bay (Southern Baltic Sea).

BackgroundThis paper analyzes the impact of changes in fertilization on crop yields and the runoff of nutrients from a small agricultural catchment (176 km2) to a shallow bay, using the SWAT model. Puck Bay is part of the Gulf of Gdansk and belongs to the Baltic Sea. The whole area of Puck Bay (364 km2) is protected (Natura 2000) yet despite this it suffers from eutrophication problems due to the relatively minimal depth and difficult water exchange.MethodsThe paper presents a comparison of the calculated yields and the runoff of nutrients and pesticides in the SWAT model, for a small agricultural coastal catchment. Calculations were made for 13 crop scenarios with weather data from 2011 to 2019. For each crop, an agriculture calendar was made. Two variants of fertilization were considered (autofertilization mode and according to the calendar). The nutrient runoff was calculated depending on the adopted scenario. In addition, the fate of selected pesticides was simulated.ResultsDepending on the crop, the annual load of NO3into the stream ranged from 0.74 to 3.65 kg ha−1. The annual load of organic phosphorous into the stream was between 0.686 and 3.64 kg ha−1. This is lower than in the majority of EU or Baltic countries. The surface runoff of dissolved Glyphosate was equal to 286 mg ha−1. The annual loads of nutrients from the catchment area are equivalent in both fertilization modes. Regardless of the selected fertilization mode, in addition to the dosage, the form of nutrients is important for the model.

Identification of dissolved organic matter size components in freshwater and marine environments

AbstractDissolved organic matter (DOM) in the transition zone from freshwater to marine systems was analyzed with a new approach for parameterizing the size distribution of organic compounds. We used size‐exclusion chromatography for molecular size analysis and quantified colored DOM (CDOM) on samples from two coastal environments in the Baltic Sea (Roskilde Fjord, Denmark and Gulf of Gdansk, Poland). We applied a Gaussian decomposition method to identify peaks from the chromatograms, providing information beyond bulk size properties. This approach complements methods where DOM is separated into size classes with pre‐defined filtering cutoffs, or methods where chromatograms are used only to infer average molecular weight. With this decomposition method, we extracted between three and five peaks from each chromatogram and clustered these into three size groups. To test the applicability of our method, we linked our decomposed peaks with salinity, a major environmental driver in the freshwater‐marine continuum. Our results show that when moving from freshwater to low‐salinity coastal waters, the observed steep decrease of apparent molecular weight is mostly due to loss of the high‐molecular‐weight fraction (HMW; >2 kDa) of CDOM. Furthermore, most of the CDOM absorbance in freshwater originates from HMW DOM, whereas the absorbing moieties are more equally distributed along the smaller size range (< 2 kDa) in marine samples.

Seasonal and Spatial Changes of Primary Production in the Baltic Sea (Europe) Based on in situ Measurements in the Period of 1993–2018

The seasonal and spatial variability of primary production (PP) measured using 14C method in two regions: open waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Gdansk were discussed. The statistical analyses of 26-years dataset (from 1993 to 2018) allow to confirm some regularities of productivity and find some features resulting mainly from changing environmental conditions like solar insolation, temperature, and chlorophyll a concentration. In the dataset, production values varied from 0.005 to 7.8 g C m–2 day–1 in open waters and from 0.07 to 12.9 g C m–2 day–1 in the Gulf of Gdansk. Analysis showed that PP in open waters were 6–17% lower than in Gulf of Gdansk in most of the cases. In both regions, the periods of intense productivity in spring and autumn were observed, but vegetation begins a month earlier in the Gulf of Gdansk than in open waters. Probably the accumulation of nutrients after the winter causes the spring bloom (April–May) in both regions to be more intense (even two times higher) than the autumn bloom (September–October) associated with favorable hydrological conditions resulting from summer insolation. The presented results showed slight downward trends in productivity in both regions, the most visible in the spring in the Bay of Gdansk. This confirms the recent reports on a possible improvement in the eutrophication state of the Baltic Sea.

Мониторинг распространения вод Калининградского залива в акватории Гданьского залива (Юго-Восточная Балтика)

Мониторинг распространения вод Калининградского залива в акватории Гданьского залива (Юго-Восточная Балтика)

Environmental Risk Assessment Resulting from Sediment Contamination with Perfluoroalkyl Substances.

Due to wide use of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (e.g., in metal-plating, in fire-fighting foam, lubricants) and their resistance to degradation, they occur widely in the environment. The aim of this study was to estimate the environmental risk resulting from the presence of PFASs in the Gulf of Gdansk. Therefore, 17 PFASs concentrations were determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (UPLC-MS/MS). Additionally, sediment ecotoxicity was investigated. The results of the chemical analysis were used to asses environmental risk of PFASs. In samples collected around discharge collectors from a wastewater treatment plant and the Vistula mouth, Σ17PFASs values were 0.00403 ÷ 40.6 and 0.509 ÷ 614 ng/g d.w., respectively. In samples collected around discharge collectors, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFHpA, and PFOA were dominating, while at the Vistula River mouth, PFHxS, PFDS, and PFBS were prevalent. For most sediments, no toxic effect was observed in the toxicity tests with Heterocypris inconguens and Aliivibrio ficsheri. There was no observed correlation between the PFASs level and their ecotoxicity. Generally, the results of environmental risk assessment indicate that the PFASs would not generate high impact on the aquatic life (five water samples have shown medium risk related to PFBS and PFDoA).

Sedimentary Record for Past Century Found in Clayey-Silty Sediments from the Gulf of Gdansk (Southern Baltic Sea)

Lithological research was conducted on three marine sediment cores ranging in length from 21 to 29 cm that had been collected in the Gulf of Gdansk at depths of 55, 70 and 98 m, which are characterized by the deposits of clayey-silty sediments. The cores were sampled every centimetre, while the corresponding sediment granulometry was established by sieve analysis. The granulometric sediment types and their grain sizes were described by using Shepard’s diagram (1954) and Folk and Ward parameters (1957), respectively. The obtained parameters were analyzed in relation to the age of sediment layers and sedimentation rates that was estimated by using two methods of recent sediment dating: the Pb-210 and the Cs-137 method. The results allowed the reconstruction of conditions under which the marine sediments were deposited during the past century. The analyzed cores contained sandy silt, silty sand, silt, clayey silt, silty clay and the mixed sand-silt-clay sediments. For all cores, the grain sizes with the diameters above 4.5 phi dominated. The mean grain diameters varied the most in the sediment core sampled from the area influenced by the spreading inflowing waters of the Vistula River (70 m). The correlation was found between the time-dependent grain size and increased loading of terrigenous material originating from the Vistula River flood waters. In addition, the highest dynamics of sedimentation processes were also noted in this case. The sediment types identified in all the analyzed cores were poorly sorted, and even very poorly sorted at times. The lowest variation of this parameter was observed in the core collected at the lowest depth (98 m). The sediments found in the cores had settled out from homogenous pelagic suspensions. With increasing depth, a noticeable increase in the share of pelagic suspension in the sediment cores was observed. Despite the fact that the analyzed core sediments belong to the same lithological types, they accumulated at different rates (from 1.6 to 2.8 mm/yr) and are characterized by varied compaction levels. This finding is based on the variation analysis of the sediment maximum age, which has been performed on the cores of the same length (from 70 and 98 m depths), as well as on the similar maximum age of the cores differing in length (collected at 56 and 70 m). Similar sedimentation conditions and sedimentation rates were observed at sampling stations located at 55 and 70 m depths. Moreover, increased sedimentation rates were noted in the material from recent decades. The deepest area of the sedimentary basin in the Gulf of Gdansk (98 m depth) is characterized by the least dynamic sedimentary processes.

Converting beach wrack into a resource as a challenge for the Baltic Sea (an overview)

The paper distinguishes beach wrack, the marine generated organic part of beach cast, as a separate management object and discusses research questions related to its management and economically viable use. Based on experiences from the Baltic Sea and existing practices from countries with different management systems clear distinction between the management of natural and anthropogenic components of cast material is seen as an essential prerequisite for developing sustainable product chains that allow beach wrack to be used as a resource of commercial value. Presenting and discussing examples from Denmark (Køge Municipality), Germany (Kühlungsborn, Rügen and Poel Island), Poland (Gulf of Gdansk), Russia (Curonian and Vistula spits) and Sweden (Kalmar municipality and Öland), social, ecological, and economic consequences of beach wrack removal are analysed to improve the attractiveness of beaches for recreational purposes. It also includes potential contribution to Baltic Sea water restoration processes through the removal of the organic part of beach cast, where indeed more studies about the chemical (nutrients, metals) composition of beach wrack are required for reliable calculation of a depuration rate. For local economies within the Baltic Sea region, the organic part of beach cast (beach wrack and terrestrial debris) has reasonable economic prospects as a renewable natural resource, e.g. for soil improvement products, in fertilisers and bio-coal production, for landfill covers (contributing to climate change mitigation), biogas generation, and even for coastal protection by providing humus-like material for accelerated dune vegetation succession. For all these recycling options the development of cost-efficient technologies for collecting beach cast on sandy as well as stony beaches and also for separating the organic part from sand and anthropogenic litter (mainly plastic), is urgently required. Amendments of legal regulations, that better reflect the dualism of beach cast are also required. In essence, dualism results from the fact that beach wrack is a part of nature (or a natural resource) when it remains on a beach. However, beach wrack immediately becomes legally categorised as waste once humans collect it irrespective of its litter content. Another legal aspect being dealt with originates from the migration of the beach wrack between water and beach, whilst it is an object of ерleagl cleaning operations only at the beach it onto the beach, but not whilst in the water.

Model of Nutrient and Pesticide Outflow with Surface Water to Puck Bay (Southern Baltic Sea)

Coastal basins are particularly exposed to the adverse impact of anthropogenic stress. In many places, despite only the seasonal increase in the number of residents, progressive urbanization and associated changes in the catchment characteristics are noticeable. Puck Bay is part of the Gulf of Gdansk and belongs to the Baltic Sea. Although the area of Puck Bay is covered by the Natura 2000 Network, this has not saved it from eutrophication problems. As part of the work on a complex coastal basin analysis (WaterPUCK project), the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to determine the agricultural impact on water quality in rivers with a flow into Puck Bay: Reda, Gizdepka, Płutnica, and Błądzikowski Stream. The results include the loads of nutrients and pesticides that flow out from the agricultural areas of Puck community into Puck Bay. In this article, special attention has been paid to the impact of precipitation on the quality of water at the outflow of rivers into the Bay of Puck, because it is a decisive element in the amount of nutrients leached along with surface runoff to watercourses and then into the Gulf. The distribution of precipitation thus affects the amount of nutrients absorbed by plants. Modeling the effects of agricultural practices, taking into account long-term meteorological forecasts, is helpful in attempts to reduce the amount of pollutants entering the Baltic Sea.

Could biotransport be an important pathway in the transfer of phenol derivatives into the coastal zone and aquatic system of the Southern Baltic?

Bird guano and the faeces of marine mammals appear to be a significant yet undisclosed biotransporter of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in the marine environment. The authors determined the concentration of bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) removed from birds and seals in their droppings into the coastal zone of the Gulf of Gdansk (Southern Baltic Sea).The research was carried out on samples of bird guano collected during the breeding season and after in 2016 at nesting sites, as well as on faecal samples from grey seals (Halichoerus grypus grypus) living in the Seal Centre of the Marine Station in Hel between 2014 and 2018. Measurements were carried out using high performance chromatography with fluorescence detector. Results have shown that the presence of seabird habitats and grey seal colonies in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Gdansk can have an impact on the pollution of the seashore (beach sand, bottom sediment and surface seawater) with phenol derivatives. The concentrations of BPA, 4-t-OP and 4-NP ranged from 0.1 to 32.97 ng∙g−1dw in sediment and beach sand, and from 0.23 to over 800 ng dm−3 in seawater. In the cases of bisphenol A and 4-tert-octylphenol safe concentration levels in the waters were exceeded. Bisphenol A concentrations were almost always found to be the highest. This was also noted in bird guano and seal faeces, although it was found to be much higher in the seal faeces - average 10149.79 ng g−1 dw, than in bird guano. An experiment conducted to assess BPA, 4-t-OP, 4-NP leaching from bird guano and seal faeces into seawater, also confirmed the importance of animal excrement in the circulation of these compounds in the marine ecosystem. The highest % of leaching related to BPA was noted at 20 °C and reached 84%. The lowest % of leaching was for 4-nonylphenol (44%).